By Samuel Estefanous
(estefanoussamuel@yahoo.com)
TPLF is a war machine. No doubt about that. Trouble is however much it has perfected the art of war it couldn’t learn the high art of good governance and compromise. I have quoted it before and I will repeat it again-politics is the art of compromise and TPLF has failed miserably on both scores.
It runs a government the way it fights a nemesis on the battlefield-go get him at all and any cost, kill and annihilate! But for how long could Tigray last constantly footing TPLF’s bills in the blood of its children?
Remember the last war was primarily fought by kids who had come of age after Ato Meles had passed on. At least they were SUPPOSED to reap the fruits of the struggle for which their grandparents and parents had sacrificed their precious lives- enjoying peace and prosperity living among their fellow compatriots in eternal fraternity. But they were caught in the whirlpool of a never ending vicious circle of war to win over an ‘eternal enemy’, which sadly happens to be the rest of the CommonWealth and the State of Eritrea.
Just try to call to mind any one party or political group TPLF is on good terms with. None! Even OPDO and ANDM proved that they were ‘sleeper agents’ for the opposition cause bidding their time to jump it the moment opportunity strikes. They kinda did, too, in a very despicable manner that made some of us ponder the ingenuity of their actions.
I think TPLF needs to quit looking at itself from inside-out for a change and weigh its worth from an outsider’s simple palpable perspective.
1-Fifty Years of Itching
Come February TPLF turns Fifty years old. Out of this it has been in government for more than thirty solid years (without counting the three years it had independently governed the whole of Tigray before marching on Addis in 1991). What has it got to show for it, I would very much like to know? One thing is for sure it has planted and sustained the high art of intrigue and feud in the National politics of the country to which the incumbent and the opposition have become heirs apparent.
The war fatigued overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian public had given TPLF unprecedented opportunity to prove its mettle in the early years of the 1990s. Instead TPLF chose to isolate and liquidate the elite of every other society except that of Tigray. In all the past three decades Tigray was represented by the crème de la crème of its society. On the contrary, it declared war on the established institutions like reputed Universities in the country and founded a College that trains an army of civil servants totally committed to serve the interests of the Front and none other. These folks will yet be the ruin of the country as they are liable to change course and faith depending on the given circumstances.
From every other region it handpicked the weak and the opportunistic. What it didn’t realize was the folks it had incubated and hatched would turn against it. I mean they were insulted and humiliated more than any other member of the society in their capacity as junior partners of the coalition. They had been nursing a wounded pride all these years and eventually cannibalized EPRDF with such vengeance that the actual victims of the Front ended up playing second fiddle to them .
Makes me wonder, what kind of politicians are TPLFites if they didn’t see this coming? I mean the only thing TPLF could showcase as its achievement was EPRDF and its exploits but it was kicked around like a Mexican piñata by its own members.
Let that be a lesson to TPLF- don’t build a house on shifting foundations as noted in the Biblical parable.
2- The Culture of Nepotism and Corruption.
If TPLF had inflicted a lasting wound on the rest of the country, it would be rooting the legacy of nepotism and corruption in every aspect of governance at all levels. Sadly, it is here to stay for the foreseeable future. The Premier has put it rather candidly when he admitted that a considerable number of PP members join the party hierarchy to do business-ትንሽ ሠራ ሠራ ለማድረግ in his own words.
Having done ‘the business’ thus to win the hearts of the gullible public they would join the opposition and shamelessly declare that in their heart of hearts they have always known PP for what it really is and hated it. This is another despicable culture of insincerity TPLF had proudly bequeathed to its disciples- አለዉ አለዉ እና በማተቡ ጸና እንዲሉ፡፡ By governments own account nowadays a creepy band of bloody thugs are running ‘political-economy’ business empires. Folks underestimate how strong and vicious the network is. Two weeks ago major news outlets in the country reported that a smooth talking daredevil of an imposter passing for the brother of Addis mayor had defrauded a number of business people in the country. That gives you a clue- one cannot help but think what if he was indeed a brother? In the latter scenario all those folks were ready to part with a hefty sum without batting an eyelid.
3-Alienating the Youth
I have tried to look up members of the breakaway faction spearheaded by Getachew and Prof Kindeya. They are relatively young and not members of the battle hardened original ‘tegadalay core’ of the Front. Though pushing on their fifties, by TPLF’s standard they are indeed young.
Instead of prevailing over the alternatives tabled by the opposing group TPLF is busy coining fitting adjectives to call them names like rotten cells etcetera. Makes me wonder, for how long would TPLF sing the party anthem of my way or the highway? Haven’t the days of escorting a ‘dissident’ to the borders of Sudan over yet?
4-Realistically speaking, what are TPLF’S alternatives?
Okay, we have heard the brave declaration by D.Tsion that TPLF doesn’t take leave from any earthly power to call the General Assembly. But there is this little law called ‘the Ethiopian Electoral, Political Parties Registration and Election Code of Conduct Proclamation that bestows a rather sweeping power on the Board to regulate political parties and ensure compliance. What are they gonna do about it?
Remember the last war was the result of a discord between the Board and TPLF. TPLF flat out refused to submit to the requirements of the Board just like any other party founded yesterday. In those days I remember arguing TPLF could have a good chance of arguing its case legitimately if it had opted for a judicial recourse.
Unless sober heads prevail, looks like this ‘bravery’ of TPLF is going to be a disagreeable déjà vu.
God Bless.
Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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